When it comes to streaming services, Amazon Prime Video is usually near the top of the list. Thousands of on-demand shows and movies, premium channel subscriptions, and the ability to rent and buy titles are enough to keep anyone busy for a lifetime. But if you’re looking for a super high-quality viewing experience, you may be wondering if Prime Video has 4K content. The answer is: yes. In fact, there are hundreds of 4K titles to browse. Below, you’ll find all the answers to your 4K Prime questions. Take a look at our Amazon Prime review for more information about everything the service has to offer.
What does 4K mean and why would I need it?
The term ‘4K’ is used here, there, and everywhere nowadays. So how exactly does it benefit your TV-watching? You’re probably aware that 4K is a step up from high definition (HD). And you may have seen it referred to as ultra high definition (or UHD). Essentially, 4K uses a minimum of eight million pixels to offer a much clearer and sharper picture with more vivid colors and realistic details.
Think of it as being around four times the resolution of your usual HD TV. If you thought HD was good, prepare to have your mind blown with a 4K display. It’s the best way to get a theater-like experience from the comfort of your own home.
What 4K content is there on Amazon Prime Video?
There are hundreds of shows and movies available to watch in 4K via Amazon Prime Video, including most of the Prime Originals, family favorites like Shrek, and musical biopics like Rocketman. Plus, the catalog is always growing. So if your chosen title can’t be played in 4K right now, it could well be in the future. As well as the usual 4K capabilities, Amazon Prime Video’s 4K titles also feature multi-dimensional audio for immersive sound and a color spectrum of more than one billion possible shades.
The best part about Prime Video is, unlike the likes of Netflix, you don’t have to pay extra to watch content in 4K. Every 4K title is available for free to subscribers. (But if you rent or buy a 4K title, you will probably be charged a little more than for the HD version.)
Finding 4K content, however, can be difficult. The only way to filter titles by resolution is via a web browser. If you’re browsing Prime Video on a TV or other streaming device, you can try searching “4K” for a select list of shows and movies. Or look for a 4K or UHD symbol on your chosen title’s details page.
From Rian Johnson’s Knives Out to viral sensation Fleabag, here’s some of the most highly-rated 4K content available on Prime Video right now:
- 7500
- Absentia
- A Quiet Place
- Beautiful Boy
- Bosch
- Britannia
- Bumblebee
- Captain America: The First Avenger
- Carnival Row
- Charlie’s Angels
- Downton Abbey
- Fleabag
- Footloose
- Good Omens
- Hanna
- Homecoming
- House
- How to Train Your Dragon
- Hunters
- Knives Out
- Life of Pi
- Megamind
- Midsommar
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout
- Modern Love
- My Spy
- Pineapple Express
- Radioactive
- Rambo: Last Blood
- Rocketman
- Shrek Forever After
- Suits
- Thor
- The Avengers
- The Boys
- The Grand Tour
- The Last Narc
- The Man in the High Castle
- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
- The Tourist
- Tin Star
- Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
- Top Gun
- Twilight
- Vikings
Which devices support 4K streaming on Amazon Prime Video?
To watch any video in 4K, you need to have a 4K-compatible device. From game consoles and phones to most 4K TVs made since 2015, a wide range of devices support 4K streaming on Prime Video. Here’s the full list:
- 4K TVs (select models by brands including Hisense, JVC, LG, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Sharp, and Sony)
- Amazon Fire TV Cube
- Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K
- Android phones and tablets
- Apple TV 4K
- Blu-ray players (select models by LG, Panasonic, Samsung, and Sony)
- Google Chromecast
- NVIDIA Shield
- Roku Premiere
- Roku Smart Soundbar
- Roku Streaming Stick Plus
- Roku Ultra
- Xbox One S
- Xbox One X
When it comes to mobiles, only 4K-compatible Android devices can support Amazon Prime Video 4K content. iOS phones and tablets, on the other hand, can only play titles in HD. There’s also no way for PlayStation consoles or web browsers to play 4K shows or movies. Other 4K streaming services do support these devices. You can play 4K Netflix TV titles, for example, on Apple phones and tablets, and Disney+ 4K is available on PlayStation 4. Certain web browsers, such as Safari and Microsoft Edge, also work with Netflix’s 4K library.
What internet speed do I need for 4K streaming on Amazon Prime Video?
After a 4K-compatible device, internet speed is the most important factor to consider when viewing UHD content. If your internet speed is too slow, you’ll experience blurry screens and regular buffering. In other words, it won’t make for smooth sailing. You’ll need a decent internet speed to watch such a high resolution as 4K without facing any issues. Prime Video requires at least 15 megabits per second (Mbps) to stream successfully. But many 4K viewers say you shouldn’t opt for anything less than 25 Mbps for a truly stable stream.
The final cut
Whether it’s an award-winning original or a Hollywood blockbuster, Prime Video has the crème de la crème of 4K content. Finding Prime Video titles to watch in UHD may not be the easiest thing, but the many titles on offer more than make up for the clunkiness. And with a variety of 4K-compatible devices to choose from, you won’t be stuck when it comes to streaming the highest resolution there is.